List of 16 Major Leading & Lagging Economic Indicators

Most economists talk about where the economy is headed – it’s what they do. But in case you haven’t noticed, many of their predictions are wrong. For example, Ben Bernanke (head of the Federal Reserve) made a prediction in 2007 that the United States was not headed into a recession. He further claimed that the stock and housing markets would be as strong as ever. As we know now, he was wrong.

Because the pundits’ predictions are often unreliable – purposefully so or not – it is important to develop your own understanding of the economy and the factors shaping it. Paying attention to economic indicators can give you an idea of where the economy is headed so you can plan your finances and even your career accordingly.

There are two types of indicators you need to be aware of:

Leading indicators often change prior to large economic adjustments and, as such, can be used to predict future trends.

Lagging indicators, however, reflect the economy’s historical performance and changes to these are only identifiable after an economic trend or pattern has already been established.

Leading Indicators

Because leading indicators have the potential to forecast where an economy is headed, fiscal policymakers and governments make use of them to implement or alter programs in order to ward off a recession or other negative economic events. The top leading indicators follow below:

1. Stock Market

Though the stock market is not the most important indicator, it’s the one that most people look to first. Because stock prices are based in part on what companies are expected to earn, the market can indicate the economy’s direction if earnings estimates are accurate.

For example, a strong market may suggest that earnings estimates are up and therefore that the overall economy is preparing to thrive. Conversely, a down market may indicate that company earnings are expected to decrease and that the economy is headed toward a recession.

However, there are inherent flaws to relying on the stock market as a leading indicator. First, earnings estimates can be wrong. Second, the stock market is vulnerable to manipulation. For example, the government and Federal Reserve have used quantitative easing, federal stimulus money, and other strategies to keep markets high in order to keep the public from panicking in the event of an economic crisis.

Moreover, Wall Street traders and corporations can manipulate numbers to inflate stocks via high-volume trades, complex financial derivative strategies, and creative accounting principles (legal and illegal). Since individual stocks and the overall market can be manipulated as such, a stock or index price is not necessarily a reflection of its true underlying strength or value.

Finally, the stock market is also susceptible to the creation of “bubbles,” which may give a false positive regarding the market’s direction. Market bubbles are created when investors ignore underlying economic indicators, and mere exuberance leads to unsupported increases in price levels. This can create a “perfect storm” for a market correction, which we saw when the market crashed in 2008 as a result of overvalued subprime loans and credit default swaps.

2. Manufacturing Activity

Manufacturing activity is another indicator of the state of the economy. This influences the GDP (gross domestic product) strongly; an increase in which suggests more demand for consumer goods and, in turn, a healthy economy. Moreover, since workers are required to manufacture new goods, increases in manufacturing activity also boost employment and possibly wages as well.

However, increases in manufacturing activity can also be misleading. For example, sometimes the goods produced do not make it to the end consumer. They may sit in wholesale or retailer inventory for a while, which increases the cost of holding the assets. Therefore, when looking at manufacturing data, it is also important to look at retail sales data. If both are on the rise, it indicates there is heightened demand for consumer goods. However, it’s also important to look at inventory levels, which we’ll discuss next.

3. Inventory Levels

High inventory levels can reflect two very different things: either that demand for inventory is expected to increase or that there is a current lack of demand.

In the first scenario, businesses purposely bulk up inventory to prepare for increased consumption in the coming months. If consumer activity increases as expected, businesses with high inventory can meet the demand and thereby increase their profit. Both are good things for the economy.

In the second scenario, however, high inventories reflect that company supplies exceed demand. Not only does this cost companies money, but it indicates that retail sales and consumer confidence are both down, which further suggests that tough times are ahead.

4. Retail Sales

Retail sales are particularly important metrics and function hand in hand with inventory levels and manufacturing activity. Most importantly, strong retail sales directly increase GDP, which also strengthens the home currency. When sales improve, companies can hire more employees to sell and manufacture more product, which in turn puts more money back in the pockets of consumers.

One downside to this metric, though, is that it doesn’t account for how people pay for their purchases. For example, if consumers go into debt to acquire goods, it could signal an impending recession if the debt becomes too steep to pay off. However, in general, an increase in retail sales indicates an improving economy.

5. Building Permits

Building permits offer foresight into future real estate supply levels. A high volume indicates the construction industry will be active, which forecasts more jobs and, again, an increase in GDP.

But just like with inventory levels, if more houses are built than consumers are willing to buy, it takes away from the builder’s bottom line. To compensate, housing prices are likely to decline, which, in turn, devalues the entire real estate market and not just “new” homes.

6. Housing Market

A decline in housing prices can suggest that supply exceeds demand, that existing prices are unaffordable, and/or that housing prices are inflated and need to correct as a result of a housing bubble.

In any scenario, declines in housing have a negative impact on the economy for several key reasons:

They decrease homeowner wealth.

They reduce the number of construction jobs needed to build new homes, which thereby increases unemployment.

They reduce property taxes, which limits government resources.

Homeowners are less able to refinance or sell their homes, which may force them into foreclosure.

When you look at housing data, look at two things: changes in housing values and changes in sales. When sales decline, it generally indicates that values will also drop. For example, the collapse of the housing bubble in 2007 had dire effects on the economy and is widely blamed for driving the United States into a recession.

7. Level of New Business Startups

The number of new businesses entering the economy is another indicator of economic health. In fact, some have claimed that small businesses hire more employees than larger corporations and, thereby, contribute more to addressing unemployment.

Moreover, small businesses can contribute significantly to GDP, and they introduce innovative ideas and products that stimulate growth. Therefore, increases in small businesses are an extremely important indicator of the economic well-being of any capitalist nation.

Lagging Indicators

Unlike leading indicators, lagging indicators shift after the economy changes. Although they do not typically tell us where the economy is headed, they indicate how the economy changes over time and can help identify long-term trends.

1. Changes in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

GDP is typically considered by economists to be the most important measure of the economy’s current health. When GDP increases, it’s a sign the economy is strong. In fact, businesses will adjust their expenditures on inventory, payroll, and other investments based on GDP output.

However, GDP is also not a flawless indicator. Like the stock market, GDP can be misleading because of programs such as quantitative easing and excessive government spending. For example, the government has increased GDP by 4% as a result of stimulus spending and the Federal Reserve has pumped approximately $2 trillion into the economy. Both of these attempts to correct recession fallout are at least partially responsible for GDP growth.

Moreover, as a lagging indicator, some question the true value of the GDP metric. After all, it simply tells us what has already happened, not what is going to happen. Nonetheless, GDP is a key determinant as to whether or not the United States is entering a recession. The rule of thumb is that when the GDP drops for more than two quarters, a recession is at hand.

2. Income and Wages

If the economy is operating efficiently, earnings should increase regularly to keep up with the average cost of living. When incomes decline, however, it is a sign that employers are either cutting pay rates, laying workers off, or reducing their hours. Declining incomes can also reflect an environment where investments are not performing as well.

Incomes are broken down by different demographics, such as gender, age, ethnicity, and level of education, and these demographics give insight into how wages change for various groups. This is important because a trend affecting a few outliers may suggest an income problem for the entire country, rather than just the groups it effects.

3. Unemployment Rate

The unemployment rate is very important and measures the number of people looking for work as a percentage of the total labor force. In a healthy economy, the unemployment rate will be anywhere from 3% to 5%.

When unemployment rates are high, however, consumers have less money to spend, which negatively affects retail stores, GDP, housing markets, and stocks, to name a few. Government debt can also increase via stimulus spending and assistance programs, such as unemployment benefits and food stamps.

However, like most other indicators, the unemployment rate can be misleading. It only reflects the portion of unemployed who have sought work within the past four weeks and it considers those with part-time work to be fully employed. Therefore, the official unemployment rate may actually be significantly understated.

One alternative metric is to include as unemployed workers those who are marginally attached to the workforce (i.e. those who stopped looking but would take a job again if the economy improved) and those who can only find part-time work.

4. Consumer Price Index (Inflation)

The consumer price index (CPI) reflects the increased cost of living, or inflation. The CPI is calculated by measuring the costs of essential goods and services, including vehicles, medical care, professional services, shelter, clothing, transportation, and electronics. Inflation is then determined by the average increased cost of the total basket of goods over a period of time.

A high rate of inflation may erode the value of the dollar more quickly than the average consumer’s income can compensate. This, thereby, decreases consumer purchasing power, and the average standard of living declines. Moreover, inflation can affect other factors, such as job growth, and can lead to decreases in the employment rate and GDP.

However, inflation is not entirely a bad thing, especially if it is in line with changes in the average consumer’s income. Some key benefits to moderate levels of inflation include:

It encourages spending and investing, which can help grow an economy. Otherwise, the value of money held in cash would be simply corroded by inflation.

It keeps interest rates at a moderately high level, which encourages people to invest their money and provide loans to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

It’s not deflation, which can lead to an economic depression.

Deflation is a condition in which the cost of living decreases. Although this sounds like a good thing, it is an indicator that the economy is in very poor shape. Deflation occurs when consumers decide to cut back on spending and is often caused by a reduction in the supply of money. This forces retailers to lower their prices to meet a lower demand. But as retailers lower their prices, their profits contract considerably. Since they don’t have as much money to pay their employees, creditors, and suppliers, they have to cut wages, lay off employees, or default on their loans.

These issues cause the supply of money to contract even further, which leads to higher levels of deflation and creates a vicious cycle that may result in an economic depression.

5. Currency Strength

A strong currency increases a country’s purchasing and selling power with other nations. The country with the stronger currency can sell its products overseas at higher foreign prices and import products more cheaply.

However, there are advantages to having a weak dollar as well. When the dollar is weak, the United States can draw in more tourists and encourage other countries to buy U.S. goods. In fact, as the dollar drops, the demand for American products increases.

6. Interest Rates

Interest rates are another important lagging indicator of economic growth. They represent the cost of borrowing money and are based around the federal funds rate, which represents the rate at which money is lent from one bank to another and is determined by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). These rates change as a result of economic and market events.

When the federal funds rate increases, banks and other lenders have to pay higher interest rates to obtain money. They, in turn, lend money to borrowers at higher rates to compensate, which thereby makes borrowers more reluctant to take out loans. This discourages businesses from expanding and consumers from taking on debt. As a result, GDP growth becomes stagnant.

On the other hand, rates that are too low can lead to an increased demand for money and raise the likelihood of inflation, which as we’ve discussed above, can distort the economy and the value of its currency. Current interest rates are thus indicative of the economy’s current condition and can further suggest where it might be headed as well.

7. Corporate Profits

Strong corporate profits are correlated with a rise in GDP because they reflect an increase in sales and therefore encourage job growth. They also increase stock market performance as investors look for places to invest income. That said, growth in profits does not always reflect a healthy economy.

For example, in the recession that began in 2008, companies enjoyed increased profits largely as a result of excessive outsourcing and downsizing (including major job cuts). Since both activities took jobs out of the economy, this indicator falsely suggested a strong economy.

8. Balance of Trade

The balance of trade is the net difference between the value of exports and imports and shows whether there is a trade surplus (more money coming into the country) or a trade deficit (more money going out of the country).

Trade surpluses are generally desirable, but if the trade surplus is too high, a country may not be taking full advantage of the opportunity to purchase other countries’ products. That is, in a global economy, nations specialize in manufacturing specific products while taking advantage of the goods other nations produce at a cheaper, more efficient rate.

Trade deficits, however, can lead to significant domestic debt. Over the long term, a trade deficit can result in a devaluation of the local currency as foreign debt increases. This increase in debt will reduce the credibility of the local currency, which will inevitably lower the demand for it and thereby the value. Moreover, significant debt will likely lead to a major financial burden for future generations who will be forced to pay it off.

9. Value of Commodity Substitutes to U.S. Dollar

Gold and silver are often viewed as substitutes to the U.S. dollar. When the economy suffers or the value of the U.S. dollar declines, these commodities increase in price because more people buy them as a measure of protection. They are viewed to have inherent value that does not decline.

Furthermore, because these metals are priced in U.S. dollars, any deterioration or projected decline in the value of the dollar must logically lead to an increase in the price of the metal. Thus, precious metal prices can act as a reflection of consumer sentiment towards the U.S. dollar and its future. For example, consider the record-high price of gold at $1,900 an ounce in 2011 as the value of the U.S. dollar deteriorated.

Final Word

Since the health of the economy is intimately connected to consumer sentiment as can be seen by indicators such as retail sales, politicians prefer to spin data in a positive light or manipulate it such that everything appears rosy. For this reason, to accurately characterize the state of the economy, you must rely on your own analysis or perhaps the analysis of others without a particular agenda.

Keep in mind that most economic indicators work best in corporation with other indicators. By considering the entire picture, you can thereby make better decisions regarding your overall plans and investments.

Which economic indicators do you usually look at when assessing the overall health of the economy?

Kalen SmithKalen Smith has written for a variety of financial and business sites. He is a weekly contributor for Young Entrepreneur and has worked as a guest blogger on behalf of Consumer Media Network. He holds an MBA in finance from Clark University in Worcester, MA.

Shipping volumes. Figures for companies that move goods and raw materials including shipping, trucking and rail companies will see month on month increases in volume of goods shipped. If the sector as a whole is reporting increased volume then that points to more raw materials being delivered to factories, more products being delivered to distribution centres as higher inventories are required etc etc and as things really pick up shippers will begin to increase their carrying capacity whether by the purchase of more trucks or the recommissioning of moth-balled ships.

http://twitter.com/DoctorStock Doctor Stock

I appreciate this take… it is more of a macro level than I usually deal with when talking about investing in the stock market. Thanks for sharing your perspective.

Anonymous

You are very welcome Dave! Thanks and we would love to hear your perspectives on micro investing as well. That is very important for financial investing too.

http://www.manhattancalumet.com/ Dennis The Menace

The stock market is often a good indication of the direction of the economy It will generally begin rallying from a low point a few months before a recession ends. And very often begin declining from a high a few months before a recession begins..

http://www.stock-market-strategy.com/ Stock Market Education

Nice article Dave.

We talk about 3 types of technical indicators. Might be worth a read if your interested

Mifth

this shows real leading indicators gdp is no more a leading indicator

Richard DeVere

I teach that two leading economic indicators are truck shipping and sales of mens’ underware. And a lagging economic indicator is employment.

valter

Given the forced low interest rates because of the massive debt structure IN THE COUNTRY for govt.,business,and consumer sector, WHY does USA sell their new found energy supply instead dropping prices at home to 2$ a gallon like in 2009 to give consumers some advantage and increasing usa manufacturing base to produce quality goods not chinese cheap trash.When can the consumer get some of the record profits to output ratios during this stock market bubble as corps. have been spoon fed .Please feed the cart not the horse as only the select few are raping all the gains.if inflation jumps to high use wage and price controls again but the selected elite will have already filled their pockets.

larsjaeger

usually deal with when talking about investing in the stock market. he stock market is often a good indication of the direction of the economy

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